Live Video: Mad Rad

Until now, Seattle’s Mad Rad probably gained more notoriety as partiers and the bad boys who got banned from six Capitol Hill clubs last year from a drunken brawl than they have as talented musicians and lyricists. Yet crazy stage antics and juvenile song titles like “Crack the Blunt” couldn’t hide the fact that MCs Buffalo Madonna, Terry Radjaw, and P Smoov, along with DJ Darwin, have a lot more going on amid their predictable mayhem — and their sophomore album, The Youth Die Young, released last month, proves it. While not quite a Paul’s Boutique leap in evolution, the new album sees Mad Rad stretching out in their production, focusing on more than just partying (though there’s still a good bit of that in there), and even adding some live instrumentation. Still, you probably shouldn’t accuse the guys of growing up just ’cause they’ve thrown a cello in the mix, but you should rejoice that their fantastic, danceable new release is one of this year’s best. For more proof, check out their performance in the KEXP studio celebrating The Youth Die Young‘s release: